Multiple top



1950 s. G. GILLELAND 2,526,862

MULTIPLE TOP Filed Nov. 6, 1947 INVENTOR Patented Oct. 24, 1950 UNITEDSTATES FATENT" OFFICE 1 Claim.

The invention about to be described relates to a toy in the nature of atop, the primary object being to create an unique effect that isfascinating to youngsters and capable of lending enjoyment andentertainment whenever placed in operation.

The most important object of this invention is the provision of a tophaving a pair of similar, disc-like sections, each having an obconicalportion upon which the same may spin and formed for substantialcomplementary fitting together whereby the same may be spunsimultaneously.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a top having apair of sections each having a hollow obconical portion, but ofdiffering dimensions, whereby when fitted together in relativesuperimposed relation the sections may be simultaneously spun andcapable of automatic separation during spinning.

Other objects include the precise manner of forming the obconicalportions of the top sections; and the way in which a manually operableactuating means is formed to frictionally engage within the normallyuppermost section when spinning motion is imparted thereto.

Other objects will be made clear or become apparent during the course ofthe following specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a toy made in accordance with mpresent invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the top per se, showing various positionsof the sections thereof during the cycle of operation.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line IIIIII of Fig. 1, theactuating device being shown fragmentarily and partially in section; and

Fig, 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 1.

The top, per se, forming a part of the toy about to be described andbroadly designated by the numeral l0, consists of a pair of similar,disclike plates I2 and I4, each being circular and formed fromrelatively thin stock, it being understood however, that the peripheralcontours are of little importance and may be changed if desired topresent animated effects when the top II] is caused to spin.

Another change that may well be made if desired, is to make the sections12 and I4 of different diameters, and designs of varying colors may bepainted on the uppermost flat surfaces of sections I2 and I4.

Each f the sections 12 and 14 has pressed or otherwise formed thereon alaterally extending obconical portion 16 and 18 respectively. Theseportions I6 and it are substantially centrally disposed to lend balanceto the top- Ill and extend from the normall lowermost faces thereof.

In use, the sections I2 and I l are placed in relative superimposedrelation as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the portion I6 of sectionI2 fitting within the portion I8 of section M since these portions I6and i8 are both hollow.

To the end that a space 20 is presented between the sections 12 and 14and further to the end that the toy will operate in the mannerhereinafter more fully described, the altitude and slant height of theobconical portion I6 of the section I2 are greater than the altitude andslant height of the obconical portion iii of the'section I4.

Actuating means broadly designated by the numeral 22, for the top I0,includes an elongated rod 24. This rod Ed is made from a pair ofspirally wound wires, embedded. at one end in a hand grip 2'6 and at theopposite end in a block 28. A motivating element 3!! is threaded on rod24 between grip 25 and block 28 through an opening 32 therein that isoblong in cross section as shown in Fig. 4. The transverse length ofopening 32 is substantially the same as the combined diameters of thetwo wires forming rod 24, while its transverse width is approximatelyequivalent to the diameter of one of the wires of rod 24.

The block 28 is round in transverse cross section and has a diameterslightly less than the inside diameter of portion it of the section I2adjacent its base. The outermost free end 34 of block 28 is dome-shapedas clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, this end 3 1 merging with the sides ofblock 28 to present a frictional line contact between block 28 and theinnermost face of portion I6 when positioned as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

In use, the top It is placed on any fiat, rigid surface such as at 36with the apex of portion IB resting thereon. Section I2 is placed oversection It with their obconical portions I6 and 58 respectively inrelative telescoping relation. Then the actuator 22 is moved intoposition with rod 22 substantially vertical and parallel to the axis ofsections i2 and I l, and with block 28 in position as above described.

Prior to positioning of actuator 22, the element 3!) is moved to the topof rod 24 near grip 26. The operator then grasps grip 26 with one handand the element 30 with the other, moving the latter downwardly alongrod 24 toward block 28. As element 36 is so moved and grip 26 allowed tospin in the operators hand, rotative 3 motion will be imparted to rod 24and block 28 and consequently to top IQ.

After actuator 22 is released, the sections I2 and I4 will continue torotate together for a time and then section I2 will gradually separatefrom section I4. During such separation, the apex of portion IE willcrawl from within the portion I8 and after reaching the base of thelatter, will spin upon the uppermost face of section I4. When section I2reaches the periphery of section I4, it will drop to surface 36 andcontinue to spin along with section I4 as is clearly illustrated in Fig.2.

The operation just described is due to several of the well-known laws ofphysics. In the first place, shortly after the actuator 22 is removedfrom the position causing spinning of the toy I0, there will be adifferential in the speed of rotation of plates I2 and I4. Frictionbetween the surface 36 and the plate I4 will cause the latter toimmediately commence decreasing in speed, while the plate I2, not havingsuch friction, will tend to I decrease in speed less rapidly. slippagewill thus occur between the portions I6 and I8, creating friction atsuch points. Disc I2 will move away from disc I4 because of its tendencyto separate itself from such friction. As soon as there is a Slightseparation between the plates I2 and I4, the former, being unsupported,will veer laterally because of its spinning. When plate I2 returnstoward plate I 4, therefore, the apex of its portion I6 will strike theside wall of portion I8. Once plate I4 is thus caused to tilt, evenslightly, plate I2 Will immediately start to climb toward the uppermostsurface of plate It and finally fall therefrom to surface 36.

Although I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, various slight changes and alterations might be made in thegeneral form and arrangement of the parts described without departmentfrom the invention, and hence I do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails set forth but shall consider myself at liberty to make suchslight changes and modifications as fairly fall within the spirit andscope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

A toy comprising a pair of superimposed, imperforate, disc-like plates,each having a hollow, obconical portion extending laterally from oneface thereof and near their centers respectively, said portions beingcomplemental and imperforate, the altitude and slant height of saidportion of the top plate being greater than the altitude and slantheight of said portion of the bottom plate whereby those portions of theplates respectively surrounding their obconical portions are spacedapart when said top plate is upon the bottom plate with their obconicalportions in relative telescoping relationship, said portions beingrelatively rotatable when the portions are in said telescopingrelationship; and manually manipulable means having a rotatable elementfrictionally fittable into said portion of the uppermost plate forimparting simultaneous spinning motion to the plates.

SAMUEL G. GILLELAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,026,112 OBrien -c. May 14, 19121,355,514 Smith l Oct. 12, 1920 2,068,053 Gehman a Jan. 19, 1937 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 180,277 Germany Jan. 10, 1907 435,645Germany Oct. 16, 1926

